Gautrain commemorates 15 years of service
The service launched with much fanfare on 8 June 2010, days before the FIFA World Cup kick-off.
More than 200 million passenger trips later, the Gautrain Management Agency wants to be more accessible to lower-income commuters.
Agency CEO Tshepo Kgobe says in the next 15 years, the target is to connect more people and more cities while stimulating economic growth.
Kgobe believes the Gautrain has a good case for expansion to areas such as Fourways, Soweto, Lanseria and Mamelodi.
On this day 15 years ago, the first Gautrain ride left Sandton Station for O.R. Tambo Station at 5:24am🔈📌. Here's to more journeys on the golden train connecting People on the Move! #15YearsonTrack pic.twitter.com/fUTqSAGu42
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) June 8, 2025
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The South African
21 hours ago
- The South African
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IOL News
01-08-2025
- IOL News
Prosper Nation: How LIV Golf and other global events can become South Africa's next growth engine
Dr Nik Eberl is the Founder & Executive Chair: The Future of Jobs Summit™ (Official T20 Side Event) .He will be writing a regular column in Business Report. Image: Supplied When LIV Golf announced last week that it will bring its global tour to South Africa in 2026,the headlines naturally focused on star power, prestige, and prize money. But beneath the spectacle lies a far more important story: what events like LIV Golf — and potentially Formula 1 at Kyalami — could mean for South Africa's economy if handled strategically. We've been here before. In 2010, the FIFA World Cup delivered not just goals and trophies,but R93 billion in GDP impact, more than 130 000 jobs, and the highest visitor satisfaction scores in the tournament's history (a 92% Net Promoter Score). It was a masterclass in how a global event can lift tourism, boost infrastructure, and rebrand a nation. The challenge now is not whether South Africa can host. We've proven we can. The challenge is whether we can turn events like LIV Golf, Formula 1, and other global draws into recurring, compounding growth engines — not just one-off bursts of excitement. Lesson 1: Treat Events as Economic Platforms, Not Just Entertainment In 2010, the World Cup's biggest impact came not from the matches, but from the industries it touched: tourism, construction, media, retail, and national branding. LIV Golf and Formula 1 can offer the same — if we broaden the lens. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ High-Value Tourism: Golf and F1 attract premium travellers who spend more, stay longer, and often combine events with safari, wine, and cultural itineraries. Golf tourists alone spend up to 120% more per day than the average leisure traveller. Year-Round Impact: LIV Golf is one event, but can anchor a series of pro-am tournaments, youth clinics, and regional golfing showcases, spreading benefits beyond a single weekend. Similarly, Kyalami can become a hub for trade expos, STEM festivals, and corporate summits, beyond the Grand Prix itself. Global Branding: Both events deliver massive exposure — F1 races reach 1.5 billion global viewers annually, while LIV Golf's streaming and broadcast partnerships willshowcase South Africa as a world-class destination for both sport and investment. Lesson 2: Build Smarter Public-Private Partnerships In 2010, the state carried most of the cost. Today, fiscal constraints mean we need to be sharper. LIV Golf, with its deep-pocketed investors and brand partnerships, and Formula 1, with its global sponsors, create opportunities for cost-sharing and revenue generation. Sponsorship and Hospitality: Premium ticketing, sponsored fan zones, and corporate hospitality packages can offset operating costs while boosting tourism receipts. Trade Linkages: Pair these events with South Africa Investment Summits, inviting CEOs and investors already attending to explore sectors like green energy, tech, and advanced manufacturing. Global Brand Alignment: Brands like Emirates, DHL, and Heineken — already heavy investors in sport — can co-fund marketing that benefits both the events and South Africa's nation brand. Lesson 3: Focus on Skills and Legacy, Not Just the Headlines The World Cup left two lasting legacies: a trained workforce and upgraded infrastructure. But it also left us with 'white elephant' stadiums that struggle for relevance. LIV Golf and Formula 1 must lean into skills transfer and industry development to avoid repeating that mistake. Tourism and Event Skills: Each event can train hundreds of young South Africans in logistics, hospitality, broadcasting, and digital media — skills they can use globally. Industry Growth: Motorsport can drive local innovation in green fuels, EV tech, and engineering, while LIV Golf can boost our sports tourism and hospitality sectors by connecting local entrepreneurs to international networks. Recurring Value: These aren't one-off tournaments. LIV Golf has the potential tobecome a multi-year fixture on the calendar, while Kyalami could anchor a 10-year F1 franchise, compounding benefits annually. Lesson 4: Make South Africa the Star, Not Just the Venue In 2010, the 'Ke Nako' campaign showcased the country — its beauty, culture, and business potential — as much as the football. LIV Golf and F1 can serve the same purpose: Tourism Campaigns: Market South Africa as a luxury and adventure destination before, during, and after these events. Cultural Showcases: Integrate local music, food, and entrepreneurs into fanexperiences and broadcasts to create a 'South African signature' that lingers beyond the event. Media Leverage: Partner with broadcasters to weave South Africa's narrative — as an investment hub and world-class destination — into global coverage. Lesson 5: Think Decade, Not Weekend The World Cup was a one-month high. LIV Golf and a potential F1 Grand Prix can deliver annual, repeatable growth if structured right. Consider the benchmarks: The Singapore Grand Prix has generated $1.5 billion in tourism receipts since 2008. The Mexican Grand Prix adds $500 million annually to the economy and employs 8 000 locals each year. Golf tourism globally contributes over $20 billion a year — and South Africa, with its courses and scenery, could capture far more of that market with LIV Golf as a flagship. The Bottom Line South Africa doesn't just need another spectacle. We need events that act as growth engines, attracting visitors, skills, and investment while boosting national pride. LIV Golf's 2026 tour and the potential Formula 1 return to Kyalami aren't just sporting headlines —they're opportunities to turn our proven ability to host into a strategy for long-term prosperity. The lesson from 2010 is clear: the world will come to South Africa. The question now is —will we turn their visit into a decade of growth, or just another fleeting celebration? Dr Nik Eberl is the Founder & Executive Chair: The Future of Jobs Summit™ (Official T20 Side Event) and uthor: Nation of Champions: How South Africa won the World Cup of Destination Branding. *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL. BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
18-07-2025
- IOL News
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Dr Nik Eberl is the Founder & Executive Chair: The Future of Jobs Summit™ (Official T20 Side Event) .He will be writing a regular column in Business Report. Image: Supplied When President Cyril Ramaphosa launched South Africa's National Dialogue last week, it reignited a powerful hope - that our fractured nation could come together, once again, to chart a shared path forward. The timing could not be more fitting. As we celebrate Mandela Day, we are reminded of Madiba's unwavering belief that dialogue is the most powerful tool we have to resolve our deepest differences and build a society grounded in dignity, justice, and unity. But to succeed, this dialogue must do more than gather leaders behind closed doors. It must be fully inclusive, reaching every corner of our country and every voice of our society. That's not just a political imperative - it's a moral one. From Soccer to Solidarity: The Lessons of 2010 We've seen before what unity can look like in South Africa. When we hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it wasn't just a sporting event—it was a national movement. I had the privilege of serving as the Head of the Brand Ambassador Program, where tens of thousands of ordinary South Africans became storytellers, hosts, and leaders. Townships, rural villages, corporates, and taxi ranks all felt the electricity of shared purpose. That success wasn't accidental. It was built on inclusive planning, local ownership, relentless communication, and a vision that made every citizen feel like a stakeholder. If we want this dialogue to leave a legacy like 2010 did, it must follow the same blueprint - but with deeper intent. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Begin with a People's Charter for Dialogue As Mandela did with the Codesa talks, we must ground the process in a clear and public mandate. A National Dialogue Charter should be co-created with representatives from all sectors - civil society, business, labour, youth, academia, traditional leaders, and opposition parties. It must outline the dialogue's purpose, scope, structure, and principles - including equity, transparency, and citizen ownership. Let the public comment. Let them shape it. Mandela taught us that process shapes outcome. If we begin with inclusion, we end with legitimacy. Representation Is Not Enough - We Need Participation Inclusion isn't just who sits at the table. It's who helps set the table. To honour Mandela's commitment to grassroots democracy, we must ensure representation from: Youth, through dedicated tracks and forums that centre their future. Women, as equal decision-makers across all levels. Townships and rural communities, through locally hosted forums in community halls, churches, and schools. Labour and informal workers, through platforms linked to Nedlac. Disabled citizens, by investing in accessible venues, interpretation, and transportation. Immigrants, refugees, and ethnic minorities, whose voices are often silenced but whose futures are tied to ours. In 2010, we went out to the people. We brought the event into their spaces. The dialogue must do the same. Multiple Entry Points for a United Conversation Not everyone can attend a summit in Pretoria. But everyone can participate and play a role. The dialogue should follow a three-tiered structure: Community Listening Circles, gathering local concerns and aspirations. Provincial Dialogues, to synthesise and elevate key issues. The National Summit, where diverse voices deliberate and ratify the People's Agenda. Digital engagement must play a core role - using WhatsApp, SMS, and radio call-ins to capture rural and urban insights alike. The 2010 model of Fan Fests and mobile activations can inspire a National Dialogue Roadshow - bringing the conversation to taxi ranks, campuses, and marketplaces. Independent Oversight for Real Accountability Mandela never feared being held accountable - he welcomed it. The dialogue must follow that example. We need a Public Inclusion Council, independently appointed, to: Audit demographic and geographic representation, Ensure fair access, And publish monthly Inclusion Scorecards. This is not window dressing. It is trust-building infrastructure. And without it, the process risks becoming an elite ivory tower. Let Citizens Influence the Outcome The greatest danger is that this becomes another talk shop. Mandela warned us many a time of dialogue without delivery. That is why the dialogue must lead to action: Adopt a Participatory Consensus Model, advancing ideas with broad, cross-sector support. Implement the Top 10 Public Recommendations within government and business reform agendas. Use Citizens' Assemblies to resolve difficult policy impasses. Much like the infrastructure, training, and tourism strategies left behind in 2010, this dialogue must leave a visible legacy - of laws changed, lives improved, and promises kept. Use Culture and Storytelling to Build Unity Mandela knew the power of storytelling to heal and inspire. So must we. Let this dialogue come alive through art, music, murals, and oral history. Partner with poets, singers, and media producers to make the process tangible and moving. In 2010, the vuvuzela became a national symbol. In 2025, let it be the voice of the people themselves. Conclusion: A Mandela Day Challenge As we reflect on Mandela's life today, we remember not only his words, but his method: 'It is never my custom to use words lightly. If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real dialogue is.' This National Dialogue is our opportunity to listen again. To each other. To our past. To our possible future. Let us honour Madiba's legacy - not with commemorations alone, but by designing a process that restores dignity, inspires unity, and delivers justice. The time for real, inclusive, courageous dialogue is now. Dr Nik Eberl is the Founder & Executive Chair: The Future of Jobs Summit™ (Official T20 Side Event) and author of Nation of Champions: How South Africa won the World Cup of Destination Branding *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL BUSINESS REPORT
